Project Cheetah has taken another big step. On 7 October 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs from Kuno National Park into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. It is now the state's third home for cheetahs, after Kuno and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Which cheetahs moved?
- Tholo – male
- CCB-3 – female
Both were shifted from Kuno. About 439 hectares inside the reserve have been specially prepared so the pair can settle in safely. Reports say two more cheetahs are planned to follow.
Where is Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve?
Earlier known as Nauradehi, the reserve covers about 2,339 sq km across the Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. It became a tiger reserve in September 2023. Unlike Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, cheetahs here will share the forest with tigers and leopards.
What does this mean for a Kuno safari?
Kuno is still the main home of India's cheetahs. India has 60 cheetahs (as of 5 October 2026), 41 of them born in India — and the large majority live in Kuno, including KJP21's five new cubs (read that story).
The Kuno safari season is open from 1 October to 30 June, with safaris every day at 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM from Tiktoli Gate. A sighting can never be guaranteed, but a local guide and the morning slot give you the best chance.
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Sources
Cover: representative photo, not the cheetahs in this story — "Cheetah Brothers" by Arturo de Frias Marques, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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